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Pearl Harbor: Hawaii’s most famous tourist site
Certain days in history remain forever infamous and December 7, 1941,
is among them. This year marks the 67th anniversary of that fateful day
when Japanese warplanes launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific
Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. When the shattering assault was over
2,388 American seamen were dead and several ships were sunk. In total,
21 vessels lay capsized or severely damaged and the following day,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan.
Today,
the harbor on the south coast of the island of Oahu is a Second World
War memorial site that is Hawaii’s most visited attraction receiving
more than 1.5 million people annually. During guided and narrated tours
visitors are reminded that by 10 a.m. on the day of the historic
Japanese offensive, Pearl Harbor had been turned into a smoking
battleground of flames, sunken ships, twisted metal and fallen seamen.
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Tour
guides describe in detail the air and sea attack that began at 7:55
a.m. The first ship to fall was the USS Arizona which exploded
following a bomb hit that slammed through her deck and ignited
ammunition stores. In less than nine minutes the vessel sank along with
her crew of 1,177 men. After several torpedo hits, the USS Oklahoma
capsized trapping 400 seamen inside and this was followed by the
sinking of the California, the West Virginia and the Utah.
Operating under the umbrella of the U.S. National Parks Service, today
the site incorporates the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Bowfin
Submarine, and the battleship USS Missouri Memorial. Located minutes
west of Honolulu, the cornerstone of the site is the USS Arizona
Memorial, a tribute to the servicemen who died on the ship. Reachable
by shuttle boat, the rusted framework of the battleship lies submerged
- though clearly visible - where the bodies of those onboard remain
entombed. Constructed above the mid-section of the ship is a huge,
white observation platform and a shrine room bearing the names of the
lost seamen.
Tours to the 184-foot-long memorial
structure are preceded by an onshore interpretive program at the
visitor centre where a riveting 20-minute documentary film on the Pearl
Harbor attack sets the scene. The centre also contains a museum housing
an extensive collection of historic photos, artefacts retrieved from
the harbour assault, plus other war-related exhibits.
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The
second feature of the three-pronged memorial is the USS Bowfin
Submarine and Museum. The Bowfin arrived at her permanent home in Pearl
Harbor in 1979. This intrepid underwater combat vessel was launched on
December 7, 1942, and was nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor
Avenger.” During its service, the submarine sank 44 enemy ships
during nine tours of duty. The Bowfin provides a rare opportunity for
the public to board a vintage sub from the Second World War and explore
the adjacent Submarine Museum where a comprehensive collection of
artefacts traces the history of submersibles from the first daring
attempt to use one in warfare in 1776 up to present-day nuclear subs.
The latest addition to the site is the USS Missouri which received its
official memorial dedication at Pearl Harbor in 1999. Moored in the
harbour alongside Ford Island, a water-shuttle ride to the battleship
features a historical commentary that details the vessel’s role
in conflict. It was on the decks of the now-retired Missouri that the
Japanese signed the 1945 surrender agreement ending the Second World
War.
Today, visitors can climb aboard the
887-foot battleship from bow to stern, or mount the flying bridge which
offers a panoramic view of Pearl Harbor. Other areas of interest aboard
the Missouri are the ship’s Tomahawk Missile Launching System and her
trademark nine big guns.
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Visitors have access to various parts of the
ship and an onboard mini-theatre provides a reflective look at the
Missouri’s half century of service spanning three separate wars.
Touring the memorial site represents the very antithesis of the
vacation Eden for which Hawaii enjoys a long-standing reputation. Less
than 45 minutes down the road from the harbour, famous Waikiki Beach is
perpetually strewn with a sea of oiled bodies soaking up the sun, and
offshore, the South pacific teems with suntanned surfers catching the
waves. Similarly, just minutes from Pearl Harbor, the city of Honolulu
bustles with tourists wearing new, brightly coloured Hawaiian shirts
and dresses. Beyond the city, popular attractions include the
island’s Dole Pineapple Plantation and the Iolani Royal Palace,
once home to Hawaii’s kings and queens.
This enchanting land of luau feasts and hula dancing is a stark
contrast to the sobering solemnity of the Pearl Harbor site, yet few
vacationers pass up the chance to tour one of the world’s most
famous battle grounds. It has rightly been said that most people gather
their knowledge of the Pearl Harbor assault from books and movies
whereas a visit to the memorial site puts the human tragedy of it in
real life perspective.
TRAVEL PLANNER
Pearl Harbor Memorial Site: Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed
dates are American Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Admission is
free and tours are on a first-come first-served basis. Many Honolulu
hotels offer trolley rides to the memorial park.
Climate:
The Hawaiian Islands have annual average temps of 74 to 88 degrees F.
Even during the hottest months, trade winds have a cooling effect.
More Information: See www.visit-oahu.com and www.nps.gov/usar
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